Backstretch Motorsports

The start of the American Le Mans Series’ second half has an uncanny similarity to the way the first ended…with Simon Pagenaud on pole position. The young Frenchman won his second straight pole position in the Series and third of the season for de Ferran Motorsports and Acura with a record qualifying run for the American Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix at Lime Rock Park on Friday.

Pagenaud set a LMP1 record with a lap of 46.971 (114.965 mph) in de Ferran’s XM Acura. His time was just good enough to edge out Patrón Highcroft Racing’s David Brabham by 0.374 seconds. [read more...]

Pagenaud, Diaz on prototype poles; Risi’s Melo fastest in GT2 for Ferrari

Four rear tires plus a brand new car equaled pole position for Simon Pagenaud on Friday. The young French star was the fastest qualifier Friday for de Ferran Motorsports at the Acura Sports Car Challenge of St. Petersburg with a lap of 1:03.776 (101.606 mph) in the team’s Acura ARX-02a. Pagenaud earned his first American Le Mans Series pole and the team’s second straight to open the season. [read more...]

de Ferran Acura bests Audi, Peugeot in qualifying

SEBRING, Fla. — Scott Dixon put Acura into the Sebring record books Thursday with a stunning final-lap dash to win the overall pole position for Saturday’s 57th annual 12 Hours of Sebring.

Dixon, the defending Indy 500 and IndyCar Series champion, made his first Sebring race appearance quite notable by driving the all-new No. 66 de Ferran XM Radio Acura ARX-02a prototype sports car to the top position in Saturday’s grid over expected favorites Audi and Peugeot. It is the first time since 2005 that a manufacturer has captured both the LMP1 and LMP2 pole positions in the same event.

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Acura Seeks Class Wins in LMP1 and LMP2 in Tough 12-hour Classic

SEBRING, Fla. — The initial outing of a new season comes with excitement and nervousness for any team. Whether it’s football, basketball, baseball, soccer or even auto racing, the debut of a new product in a new year brings a variety of anxious moments before the opening event.

It will not be any different for the new Acura Motorsports teams coming to this weekend’s 57th annual Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring, one of the world’s most prestigious racing contests and American Le Mans Series opener.

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The entry list for the American Le Mans Series’ annual Winter Test at Sebring International Raceway is out and features several of the most anticipated new entries to the world’s premier sports car championship.

The three-day test is set for January 26-28 at Sebring, site of the season-opening 57th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida. A near-record number of entries will test on the same circuit that will play host to the Series’ 100th all-time event.

Perhaps the car most Series fans have been waiting to see is the Acura ARX-02a. The manufacturer announced its move to LMP1 in September with de Ferran Motorsports and Patrón Highcroft Racing set to campaign one car each for the full 2009 season. David Brabham and Scott Sharp will drive the Patrón Highcroft Acura at the test, with Gil de Ferran and Simon Pagenaud in the de Ferran entry.

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Fulfilling plans set two years ago when it entered the American Le Mans Series, Acura Motorsports announced that it will move to LMP1 in the 2009 American Le Mans Series. De Ferran Motorsports and Patrón Highcroft Racing each will field prototypes in the Series’ highest classification starting with the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring in March.

The two teams will each field an Acura ARX-02a prototype sports cars, developed by Honda Performance Development (HPD), in the most advanced and technically challenging class of the American Le Mans Series.

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VOICES OF MOSPORT INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY

Prototype pilots Lucas Luhr and Chris McMurry are looking forward to the speed and exhilaration of racing at Mosport.
The only thing American Le Mans Series drivers love more than a fast circuit are two consecutive ones. That’s what the field is in for this weekend in Mobil 1 presents the Grand Prix of Mosport at historic Mosport International Raceway. The 2.459-mile, 10-turn circuit rivals Road America - the previous Series stop - as the fastest on the schedule, and the enthusiasm of the Mosport fans makes the Series’ only annual Canadian stop one of the highlights of the season.

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